Lincoln Dealers Not Happy With Slow Production Ramp-Up For MKZ

Right now isn't a good time to be Lincoln. Executives recently had to deal with frustrated dealers at National Automobile Dealers Association Convention and Expo in Orlando, FL. The frustrations stem from the lack of the new MKZ on dealer lots. Don Chalmers, a Ford and Lincoln dealer from New Mexico tells The Detroit News that with the lack of inventory, they're losing sales from customers who want to buy.

Lincoln sales in January were to say in the least, abysmal. Total sales was around 4,191 vehicles, an 18% drop when compared to last year. MKZ sales suffered badly; Lincoln only sold 453 vehicles for the month, despite the MKZ having the biggest number of pre-orders in Lincoln history.

The small number of sales is due to the numerous quality checks going on at Ford's Hermosillo, Mexico assembly plant to make sure each MKZ is just right. In fact, Ford is shipping some of the MKZs to a factory in Flat Rock, Michigan for a closer inspection. Analysts believe Ford is going to these measures to to avoid therecall issues that have plagued recent launches including the Escape and Fusion.

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Wow people are lined up with pre- orders to buy this homely looking thing? I sure don't want one! There is little to nothing here that even piques my interest. 4 cylinder engines. No shift lever on the overly larger center console. Uber complex dash. Tall plain ungainly styling. They even fitted the test cars with special performance tires that won't make it to production cars to get better skid pad numbers. I'll take a Caddy please.

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I sat in the new MKZ, and the interior shape is identical to the Fusion, the center stack just has different buttons and the door panels have leather and wood on them rather than the rubber/plastic stuff on the Ford. It is pathetic.

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For the past decade, Mercedes-Benz would build Sprinter vans fully in Germany before disassembling them and shipping the pieces to South Carolina. Workers in a small assembly building would put the vans back together. This method allowed Mercedes-Benz to claim the vans as "locally made".
"I really couldn't believe it. To build up and tear down, that's really something that hurts me, personally. And the costs!" said Volker Mornhinweg, worldwide head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
Mornhinweg first learned about this back in 2010 and like us, found himself wondering 'WHY?!' Thankfully, Mornhinweg began working on making this process not seem like Rube Goldberg machine which will fully culminate with a new assembly plant in South Carolina that will be tasked with building the next-generation Sprinter, most likely in 2018.
Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Automakers go to great lengths to avoid being hit with the 25 percent chicken tax when they import trucks or vans into the U.S. Mercedes-Benz takes the cake for the most absurd method.
For the past decade, Mercedes-Benz would build Sprinter vans fully in Germany before disassembling them and shipping the pieces to South Carolina. Workers in a small assembly building would put the vans back together. This method allowed Mercedes-Benz to claim the vans as "locally made".
"I really couldn't believe it. To build up and tear down, that's really something that hurts me, personally. And the costs!" said Volker Mornhinweg, worldwide head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
Mornhinweg first learned about this back in 2010 and like us, found himself wondering 'WHY?!' Thankfully, Mornhinweg began working on making this process not seem like Rube Goldberg machine which will fully culminate with a new assembly plant in South Carolina that will be tasked with building the next-generation Sprinter, most likely in 2018.
Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Maserati North America, Inc. - Up 27.3% (1,380 Vehicles Sold This Month, 10.838 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Volkswagen of America - Up 24.24% (29,672 Vehicles Sold This Month, 285,719 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Porsche Cars North America, Inc. - Up 23.9% (5,513 Vehicles Sold This Month, 50,265 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Kia Motors America - Up 15.3% (52,504 Vehicles Sold This Month, 593,245 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC - Up 11.9% (7,723 Vehicles Sold This Month, 72,595 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Subaru of America, Inc. - Up 11.4% (51,308 Vehicles Sold This Month, 551,955 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)General Motors Co. - Up 10.2% (252,644 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,723,667 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Nissan North America - Up 7.5% (115,136 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,411,680 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)American Honda Motor Co. - Up 6.5% (122,924 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,477,465 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Ford Motor Company - Up 5.1% (199,441 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,361,426 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Toyota Motor Sales - Up 4.3% (197,645 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,206,359 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Hyundai Motor America - Up 4.2% (62,507 Vehicles Sold This Month, 712,700 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Audi of America - Up 2.5% (17,118 Vehicles Sold This Month, 187,018 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Mitsubishi Motors North America - Up 1.8% (6,896 Vehicles Sold This Month, 88,884 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Mercedes-Benz USA - 0% (33,490 Vehicles Sold This Month, 343,695 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Mazda North American Operations - Down 3% (22,041 Vehicles Sold This Month, 269,019 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)FCA US LLC - Down 14% (160,827 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,051,796 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)BMW Group U.S. - Down 15.8% (30,696 Vehicles Sold This Month, 327,711 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)

Jaguar Land Rover North America -

Brands:
Acura - Down 5.1% (11,616 Vehicles Sold This Month, 144,212 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Alfa Romeo - Down 32% (23 Vehicles Sold This Month, 464 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Audi - Up 2.5% (17,118 Vehicles Sold This Month, 187,018 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
BMW - Down 18.2% (26,189 Vehicles Sold This Month, 280,339 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Buick - Up 16.1% (18,530 Vehicles Sold This Month, 208,343 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Cadillac - Up 14.5% (15,326 Vehicles Sold This Month, 148,560 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Chevrolet - Up 8.1% (169,675 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,883,551 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Chrysler - Down 47% (14,518 Vehicles Sold This Month, 215,196 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Dodge - Down 21% (34,075 Vehicles Sold This Month, 470,529 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Fiat - Down 15% (2,415 Vehicles Sold This Month, 30,136 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Ford - Up 4.5% (187,012 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,262,493 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Genesis - N/A (1,306 Vehicles Sold This Month, 5,215 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
GMC - Up 14.1% (49,113 Vehicles Sold This Month, 483,213 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Honda - Up 7.9% (111,308 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,333,253 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Hyundai - Up 2% (61,201 Vehicles Sold This Month, 707,485 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Infiniti - Up 3.6% (12,112 Vehicles Sold This Month, 120,095 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Jaguar -
Jeep - Down 12% (67,285 Vehicles Sold This Month, 843,217 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Kia - Up 15.3% (52,504 Vehicles Sold This Month, 593,245 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Land Rover -
Lexus - Down 1% (29,050 Vehicles Sold This Month, 290,046 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Lincoln - Up 19.1% (9,429 Vehicles Sold This Month, 98,933 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Maserati - Up 27.3% (1,380 Vehicles Sold This Month, 10.838 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Mazda - Down 3% (22,041 Vehicles Sold This Month, 269,019 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Mercedes-Benz - Up 1.1% (30,363 Vehicles Sold This Month, 308,226 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Mercedes-Benz Vans - Down 7.4% (2,564 Vehicles Sold This Month, 30,444 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
MINI - Up 1.4% (4,507 Vehicles Sold This Month, 47,372 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Mitsubishi - Up 1.8% (6,896 Vehicles Sold This Month, 88,884 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Nissan - Up 8% (103,024 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,291,585 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Porsche - Up 23.9% (5,513 Vehicles Sold This Month, 50,265 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Ram Trucks - Up 12% (42,511 Vehicles Sold This Month, 492,254 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
smart - Down 15% (563 Vehicles Sold This Month, 5,025 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Subaru - Up 11.4% (51,308 Vehicles Sold This Month, 551,955 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Toyota - Up 5.3% (168,595 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,916,313 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Volkswagen - Up 24.24% (29,672 Vehicles Sold This Month, 285,719 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Volvo - Up 11.9% (7,723 Vehicles Sold This Month, 72,595 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)

Maserati North America, Inc. - Up 27.3% (1,380 Vehicles Sold This Month, 10.838 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Volkswagen of America - Up 24.24% (29,672 Vehicles Sold This Month, 285,719 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Porsche Cars North America, Inc. - Up 23.9% (5,513 Vehicles Sold This Month, 50,265 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Kia Motors America - Up 15.3% (52,504 Vehicles Sold This Month, 593,245 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC - Up 11.9% (7,723 Vehicles Sold This Month, 72,595 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Subaru of America, Inc. - Up 11.4% (51,308 Vehicles Sold This Month, 551,955 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)General Motors Co. - Up 10.2% (252,644 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,723,667 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Nissan North America - Up 7.5% (115,136 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,411,680 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)American Honda Motor Co. - Up 6.5% (122,924 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,477,465 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Ford Motor Company - Up 5.1% (199,441 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,361,426 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Toyota Motor Sales - Up 4.3% (197,645 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,206,359 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Hyundai Motor America - Up 4.2% (62,507 Vehicles Sold This Month, 712,700 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Audi of America - Up 2.5% (17,118 Vehicles Sold This Month, 187,018 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Mitsubishi Motors North America - Up 1.8% (6,896 Vehicles Sold This Month, 88,884 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Mercedes-Benz USA - 0% (33,490 Vehicles Sold This Month, 343,695 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)Mazda North American Operations - Down 3% (22,041 Vehicles Sold This Month, 269,019 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)FCA US LLC - Down 14% (160,827 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,051,796 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)BMW Group U.S. - Down 15.8% (30,696 Vehicles Sold This Month, 327,711 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)

Jaguar Land Rover North America -

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Alfa Romeo - Down 32% (23 Vehicles Sold This Month, 464 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Audi - Up 2.5% (17,118 Vehicles Sold This Month, 187,018 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
BMW - Down 18.2% (26,189 Vehicles Sold This Month, 280,339 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Buick - Up 16.1% (18,530 Vehicles Sold This Month, 208,343 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Cadillac - Up 14.5% (15,326 Vehicles Sold This Month, 148,560 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Chevrolet - Up 8.1% (169,675 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,883,551 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Chrysler - Down 47% (14,518 Vehicles Sold This Month, 215,196 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Dodge - Down 21% (34,075 Vehicles Sold This Month, 470,529 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Fiat - Down 15% (2,415 Vehicles Sold This Month, 30,136 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Ford - Up 4.5% (187,012 Vehicles Sold This Month, 2,262,493 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Genesis - N/A (1,306 Vehicles Sold This Month, 5,215 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
GMC - Up 14.1% (49,113 Vehicles Sold This Month, 483,213 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Honda - Up 7.9% (111,308 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,333,253 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Hyundai - Up 2% (61,201 Vehicles Sold This Month, 707,485 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Infiniti - Up 3.6% (12,112 Vehicles Sold This Month, 120,095 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Jaguar -
Jeep - Down 12% (67,285 Vehicles Sold This Month, 843,217 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Kia - Up 15.3% (52,504 Vehicles Sold This Month, 593,245 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Land Rover -
Lexus - Down 1% (29,050 Vehicles Sold This Month, 290,046 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Lincoln - Up 19.1% (9,429 Vehicles Sold This Month, 98,933 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Maserati - Up 27.3% (1,380 Vehicles Sold This Month, 10.838 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Mazda - Down 3% (22,041 Vehicles Sold This Month, 269,019 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Mercedes-Benz - Up 1.1% (30,363 Vehicles Sold This Month, 308,226 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Mercedes-Benz Vans - Down 7.4% (2,564 Vehicles Sold This Month, 30,444 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
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Nissan - Up 8% (103,024 Vehicles Sold This Month, 1,291,585 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Porsche - Up 23.9% (5,513 Vehicles Sold This Month, 50,265 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Ram Trucks - Up 12% (42,511 Vehicles Sold This Month, 492,254 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
smart - Down 15% (563 Vehicles Sold This Month, 5,025 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
Subaru - Up 11.4% (51,308 Vehicles Sold This Month, 551,955 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year)
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